Social Responsibility in An Inspector Calls

Stage Directions:

In the opening of the play, stage directions describe the Birling house as "heavily comfortable". An oxymoron- shows they're upper class & house is for show, whole life is for show. Also says "Imposing but tasteless" describing painting on the wall. Suggests upper class is imposing but "tasteless" or immoral. Indicative of character - immoral and fake.

Upper class is superficial, world without social responsiblity is superficial and unnatural. Post WW2, for almost all households this is not relatable. Viewed as seperate from them, hard to sympathise with. + reminds some of old / better days putting Birlings in the past as old-fashioned.

Lighting:

In opening, lighting described as "pink and intimate". Birlings view world through rose tinted glasses?

When Inspector Goole arrives lighting becomes "brighter and harsher" when the inspector arrives.As if light of interogation shone upon them , injustice becomes clearer to the world.

" Bright and harsh" lighting. Priestly is shining an almost interogating light onto the Birlings and their lack of compassion for others - lack of Social Responsibility.

Entrances and Exits:

Mr Birling says "a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own-and-" Incomplete syndetic list - like mindless warbling. Childlike. Interrupted by a [short sharp ring of the doorbell]. Almost a wake up call.

Symbolic of capitalists being interupted by Priestlys socialist message. Society must be made aware of importance of social responsibility.

Foreshadowing:

"If men do not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire, blood and anguish" . "that" being "we are one body". Foreshadows WW2/Russian Revolution. "Fire" = hell. Men burn in hell for their crimes against society.

If men do not accept social responsibilty they will pay for it. Audience worries if they do not become socially responsible WW2 or some similar disaster will occur again.

Inspector Goole's Dialogue:

"We are all members of one body" Goole suggests all teirs of society are connected. Metaphor. We suffer with others.

"Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privilages." Bluntly saying that social responsibility is of equal value to privilages.

 Inspector Goole is an embodiment of J.B Priestly's socialist views. He speaks openly of the importance of social resonsibility. The juxstaposition between him and the character Mr Birling and his obviously out-dated views allow Inspector Gooles radical socialist views to appear in a very positive light and be easier to digest for the audience. Through this Priestly is able to push the importance of social responsibility.

Time lapse in the ending of the play:

When the Inspector leaves, it is discovered he is not real and there has not been a suicide of a young woman. After this , the Birlings immediatey revert  to their old ways and dismiss her death. Soon after , they recieve a call saying there was in fact a young woman who has commit suicide. Eva's double death is a metaphor for both world wars, it was the nations fault and ignorance that a second occured as we did not change. Pushes idea that we are responsible, we should have stopped this mass suffering and we should have but we didn't. So from this we should learn to embrace social responsibility.

"Everything's alright now Sheila."

"They've no proof it's the same girl!" both quotes from Gerald show ignorance and dismissal, lack of social responsibility. Reinforces aforementioned point.

Inspector Goole's Dialogue 2:

"there millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths left in the world" polysyndetic list emphasises the scale of this injustice. Shows society has plenty opportunity to change.

"We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible." "We are all members of one body" - discussed in Inspector Goole's Dialogue 1. Repitition of "We" emphasises the need for a community- working together.